TV deal to delay team selectionsCaroline Wilson and Jon Pierik
December 7, 2011FOOTBALL fans will have to wait up to an extra 80 minutes next season to learn the make-up of their AFL teams, after it was revealed the league had struck an exclusive agreement with the Seven Network.
Under the deal, which was signed by the AFL and its free-to-air broadcaster in May, Channel Seven's 6pm news bulletin will break the team selections on Thursday night in its sports bulletin. In 2011 the AFL and its clubs released the news on their respective websites about 5pm.
AFL executive Gillon McLachlan said he was working closely with Seven to ensure that team information was not prematurely leaked, given the league's increasingly strict gambling policy surrounding potential inside information.
''We are working together to make sure the teams information remains secure,'' he said.
The deal has raised the eyebrows of some clubs concerned that the late release of team changes could cost them valuable exposure in newspapers and on their websites.
Team news will be released for general use immediately after Seven's sport report, which that network sees as a massive fillip for its ratings in the all-important and highly competitive 6pm-6.30pm timeslot.
Coaches and football managers will be instructed not to reveal team selections, including news of AFL debutants, until after 6.15, a move that could affect the reporting of the game.
The AFL, which is spending significant money in an aggressive expansion of its internal media organ, has also warned clubs that they face fines if they refuse to co-operate with the game's host broadcasters.
As the full ramifications of the AFL's five-year, $1.25 billion media agreement become apparent, Seven's position as the sole free-to-air broadcaster continues to shape changes to the game's coverage.
While the AFL's traditional broadcaster must risk competing with Fox Sports in its four weekly home-and-away games, it has also become clear that Seven executives have demanded - and received - new privileges.
''This is an outcome that confirms Seven as the home of football,'' said a network spokesman.
''We'll not only broadcast the best four games every weekend, Seven News will also be the first to reveal all the ins and outs at the selection table every week. And it won't cost footy fans a cent.''
The decision will affect several media outlets, including Channel Ten's 5pm news bulletin.
Ten, which chose not to renew its AFL broadcast rights deal with Seven, generally led its sports bulletin each Thursday with team changes.
Staff yesterday were unaware of Seven's deal, while Ten's head of sport, David Barham, said he wasn't fussed that his network could miss out on team changes.
''It's of minimal value, I reckon,'' he said. ''I don't reckon it will make much difference.''
Channel Ten's long-running Saturday night football program Before The Game looks certain to remain on air at Ten next year, with Seven unlikely to pick up the popular show.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tv-deal-to-delay-team-selections-20111206-1oh70.html#ixzz1flz4rRls
